Naval Aces of WWI Part I

Osprey Aircraft of the Aces - 97


Jon Guttman

ISBN: 978-1-84908-346-1

96 pages

Black & White photographs

Colour Illustrations
Softback



Although overshadowed by their army colleagues, naval aviators played a significant role in WWI, including some noteworthy contributions in fighter aviation. At a time when the Royal Flying Corps was struggling to match the 'Fokker Scourge' of 1915-16, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was first to use Sopwith's excellent line of scouts, such as the Pup, Triplane and Camel. Some RNAS pilots rated amongst the most successful in the British Commonwealth during the conflict. Their ranks also included a handful of RNAS aces who scored victories in Nieuport scouts, along with one individual who managed to claim his first success in a Sopwith Baby Floatplane. Less publicised, but no less courageous, were the RNAS bomber pilots and observers, some of whom were credited with five or more victories during the course of their sorties agains German bases in Flanders, flying DH 4s.


A resident of Leesburg, Virginia, Jon Guttman is research director and contributing writer for Weider History Group publications. Specializing in WWI aviation, he has written 15 titles for the Osprey 'Aces' series, and 4 books for the Osprey 'Duel' series on WWI fighter aircraft and aviators.


'Naval Aces' is a chronology of the RNAS and its aircraft, beginning with the 'nimble Nieuports', then the various Sopwiths, beginning with the 1½ Strutter, the Triplane and the Camel. Throughout the book, there are many references to 'Naval Eight' and the actions of its notable aces, including Draper (beginning with his time on 'Naval 6'), Galbraith, Goble, Little, Soar, Compston, Booker, Arnold, Munday, Johnstone and Jordan.


The book is richly illustrated with colour plates of the aircraft by Harry Dempsey, who has been passionate about World War 1 aviation for over 30 years, having produced the most technically accurate artwork on the subject. He has illustrated all the books in Aircraft of the Aces series to date.



Published by

Osprey Publishing

Midland House

West Way

Botley

Oxford OX2 0PH


Published 2011